Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the city as fires erupted in multiple locations, leading to the destruction of approximately 1,500 buildings, primarily homes and commercial properties, spanning from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena.
With mandatory evacuations affecting over 100,000 residents, the urgency grew as the situation escalated. Fire Chief Chad Augustin of Pasadena reported that the Eaton Fire, which ignited on Tuesday night due to hurricane-force winds, resulted in damage to between 200 and 500 structures. He acknowledged that the water supply was strained and complicated further by power outages, stating, “Even without those issues, we weren’t going to stop that fire. The erratic wind gusts were carrying embers miles ahead.”
The Pacific Palisades fire, located west of downtown Los Angeles, devastated entire blocks, leaving behind destroyed grocery stores and banks. With over 1,000 structures lost, it has become one of the most catastrophic fires in Los Angeles’s modern history, injuring many, including first responders, as reported by Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
Visual accounts of the destruction revealed opulent homes reduced to ashes, pools tainted with soot, and luxury vehicles resting on melted tires. “This morning brought a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles. The hurt is especially pronounced for those directly impacted by the fires. It’s been an incredibly painful 24 hours,” remarked LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
As the flames approached well-populated and affluent areas, including Calabasas and Santa Monica—homes to numerous celebrities—evacuations became urgent. Public spaces in Palisades Village, such as the local library, major grocery stores, and boutique shops, fell victim to the raging fire.
Dylan Vincent, who returned to his neighborhood to collect personal belongings, shared his shock: “It feels surreal coming back to a place that no longer exists. My elementary school burned down, and entire blocks are flattened.”
The raging fires have overtaken approximately 42 square miles, a size comparable to San Francisco. Jennie Girardo, a producer from Pasadena, expressed her alarm as she noted the atmosphere outside her home. “Opening my door felt like being inside a fireplace. Ash was raining down like I had never seen,” she described.
Fast-spreading flames offered little time for residents to evacuate. Some police officers sought refuge in their vehicles, while residents in senior living facilities were hurried to safety in wheelchairs and hospital beds. The Pacific Palisades fire raced through the coastal area known for its celebrity homes, causing panic as roadways became blocked, forcing many to flee on foot, cradling dogs and suitcases. Kelsey Trainor recounted the chaos, “People were leaving their cars with dogs and babies as ash fell all around, and fires burned on either side.”
Typically, California’s wildfire season spans from June or July through October, but earlier and prolonged fire seasons are becoming common due to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall associated with climate change. Previous January wildfires, including one in 2022, emphasize this shift. As dry winds, notably the Santa Ana winds, contributed to above-average temperatures, Southern California has not seen more than 0.1 inches of rain since early May.
Wind gusts on Wednesday reached 80 mph, with predictions of even stronger winds in mountainous regions. President Biden pledged to enact a federal emergency declaration during his visit to a fire station in Santa Monica for discussions with Governor Gavin Newsom, who noted that over 1,400 firefighters had been deployed to address the blazes.
Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley warned, “We are absolutely not out of danger yet.” The flames engulfed Temescal Canyon, a popular hiking destination surrounded by affluent neighborhoods, and crossed famed Sunset Boulevard, damaging parts of the Palisades Charter High School, a site recognized in Hollywood films.
In light of the escalating danger, several Hollywood studios halted production, and Universal Studios temporarily closed its theme park. The Getty Villa, a cultural site dedicated to art from ancient Greece and Rome, confirmed that its facilities remained unscathed.
This ongoing fire in the Pacific Palisades is now recorded as the most destructive in Los Angeles’s recent history. With an estimated 1,000 structures lost and the flames still spreading, it has far surpassed the Sayre fire of 2008, which destroyed slightly over 600 buildings, according to the Wildfire Alliance’s statistics.
Warnings were issued for residents to conserve water as local water systems, while functioning effectively, lacked the capacity for wildfire combat. More than 100 schools were shuttered due to the high fire risk, with at least five in Altadena suffering considerable damage. As a result, schools in Pasadena will remain closed for the remainder of the week.
Southern California Edison disconnected power to thousands as a precaution against the high winds and fire risk, affecting potentially 1.5 million customers contingent upon weather conditions, according to the utility company.
Several iconic locations were extensively damaged, including the Reel Inn seafood restaurant in Malibu. Owner Teddy Leonard reflected on resilience, stating, “In the bigger picture, if your family is safe and everyone is alive, that’s what really matters.”
